Namibia should see India’s flagship programmes as workable models for it: Mukherjee

Windhoek (Namibia): Expressing the belief that India’s flagship programmes like Skill India, Make in India, Digital India and 100 Smart Cities could be workable models in Namibia, President Pranab Mukherjee said in his banquet speech on Thursday night that Namibia is blessed with rich natural resources and an abundance of mineral wealth.

He said that India has always been and will continue to be a reliable partner in Namibia’s endeavours to maintain a “flourishing bilateral trade and economic relationship”, and added that New Delhi is fully committed to the implementation of all projects and initiatives jointly identified.

Describing India and Africa as the “centres of gravity in today’s globalized world”, President Mukherjee said both have “a responsibility to work together for peace, security and sustainable development in our two continents.”

“India attaches high importance to enhancing her bilateral relations with Namibia. Our two countries have been cooperating closely while making sustained efforts to realize the developmental goals of our two nations. We have focused on human resource development, capacity building, cultural exchanges and closer cooperation in the education and defence sectors,” he added.

He further emphasized that both countries shared the view that reform of the United Nations and its principal organs, created in the wake of the Second World War, is an imperative.

“We agree that they (UN reforms) need to be made more reflective of today’s changed world, so that they can respond more effectively to the complex challenges confronting the world today,” said Mukherjee, adding that as a steadfast friend and reliable partner of Namibia, India would always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with it in realizing her people’s aspirations, progress in its region and peace in the world.

He also praised the cherished legacy and stewardship of Dr. Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s Founding President, for guiding his people into a new era of peace, security and democracy, adding that the “Harambee Prosperity Plan” conceived by the Namibian leadership has set a new and ambitious agenda for realizing inclusive development, social cohesion and enduring stability. (ANI)